In 1874, lovesick author Robert Louis Stevenson stepped off a train at High Wycombe station on the first leg of a three-day journey across the Chiltern Hills to Tring. Almost 150 years later, Gail Simmons took to the hills in his footsteps, chronicling the world of her childhood before the construction of HS2 brings commensurate destruction to this ancient landscape.
"And then, just as I found myself lulled into reveries of this meadow’s history, I was brought up short by a sign barring my way. Ahead, where the portal of HS2 will emerge from under the Chilterns, ‘essential maintenance’ to the electricity pylons was taking place and I was forbidden to take another step."
Last month our MD Adrian Phillips appeared on James Martin's Saturday Morning to discuss his favourite alternative European weekend destinations, each with a foodie twist. Catch up now here.
Write it your way Want to chronicle your travels like a Bradt author? Expert Jonathan Lorie shows you how in The Travel Writer's Way. Read the first chapter
Breadbasket of Portugal Alentejo is a delight for foodies and culture lovers alike – but what flavours of Portugal would it be a crime to miss? Read more
Get wild in the Bering Sea Our updated guide to the wildlife of the Arctic is a must for any expedition to this polar region. Read more
Rocky road The USA's top mountain ranges can be seen effortlessly when travelling on these railway journeys. Read more
